Student Senate members reviewed the idea for potential involvement in the American Student Government Association, which would cost $797 a year to join, at their meeting on Wednesday.

The senate’s business affairs committee brought up the topic in order for the senate to revisit the idea of joining.

While the debate over whether to join was not resolved, the idea will be discussed in more detail at later meetings.

The organization would provide access to information such as constitutions and by-laws of the 1209 student government organizations who are members of the association.

This would give the senate the ability to compare their documents with other’s documents.

Being a member would also give them discounts on various conventions hosted by the organization.

Executive Vice President Mitch Gurick said these types of conferences are beneficial and spark ideas to implement in student government.

The senate can still participate in these conferences without being a member.

Yazmin Rodriguez, a sophomore sociology major, said she was a part of a similar group, the Illinois Association of Student Councils, in high school and it was beneficial.

“My high school made so many connections to other schools in Illinois,” Rodriguez said. “Especially since this is nationwide, I think this is a great idea.”

Student Body President Kaylia Eskew said she researched this last year and most of the benefits offered by the organization are not worth the price point.

“I don’t think we are in a financially stable place to take this on,” Eskew said. “I don’t think that we have a right to be spending almost $800 a year of student fees on something like this when we can be putting it towards the students.“

The senate also unanimously passed the resolution, which will approve the budget for 22 Student Action Team members to go Springfield to lobby for Eastern issues, such as speaking for increased appropriations for higher education and funding for the new science building.

They also passed a resolution approving the budget expenses of $605 for four senate members to go to Springfield for the Illinois Board of Education- Student Advisory Committee.

They unanimously passed a resolution approving the $90 expenses for the co-opted project with Big Brothers Big Sisters on Tuesday at the EIU Lanes in the Marin Luther King Jr. University Union.

The senate also presented and approved a resolution allowing for changes to the constitution and by-laws.

Eskew said there were a lot of bylaws that were outdated.

Many have not been updated since 2009.

The senate will be meeting again at 7 p.m. Oct. 30 in the Arcola-Tuscola Room of the Union.

Jarad Jarmon can be reached at 581-2812 or jsjarmon@eiu.edu.